How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make in Philadelphia?
Median yearly pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area. That is $28.72 an hour or $4,978 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.72
- Vs. national median
- +20%
- Rank among cities
- 56 of 313
- Jobs in the area
- 2,610
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,040 | $17.33 | |
| 25th | $43,150 | $20.75 | |
| Median | $59,730 | $28.72 | |
| 75th | $63,960 | $30.75 | |
| 90th | $71,250 | $34.25 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for refuse and recyclable material collectors.
| Chambersburg, PA | $59,380 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $58,680 |
| Allentown, PA | $51,610 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $49,730 |
| State College, PA | $48,940 |
| York, PA | $47,040 |
| Erie, PA | $46,380 |
| Scranton, PA | $45,960 |
| Lancaster, PA | $45,540 |
| Reading, PA | $38,760 |
| Altoona, PA | $35,930 |
Related jobs in Philadelphia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Air Traffic Controller | $198,600 |
| Airline Pilot | $180,300 |
| Commercial Pilot | $158,700 |
| Captain | $103,800 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $81,950 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor | $80,820 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $72,010 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $62,820 |
| Sailor and Marine Oiler | $61,630 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $59,370 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make an hour in Philadelphia?
The median hourly pay in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $28.72 ($59,730 a year).
Do refuse and recyclable material collectors make more in Philadelphia than the national average?
Yes: $59,730 against $49,690 nationally, 20% more.
How does Philadelphia compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $48,240, so Philadelphia pays 24% more.
Where does Philadelphia rank for refuse and recyclable material collector pay?
56 of 313 metro areas with data.
How much does a refuse and recyclable material collector make starting out in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $71,250 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.